“They have agonised about what to do” - The schools that say they won’t open on Monday as Covid cases soar

straight to your inbox every day for freeManchester United have opened their Old Trafford stadium to be used for vaccination training.St John Ambulance will be granted access to four hospitality suites across the stadium to utilise as a training centre for hundreds of volunteers as part of the NHS COVID-19 vaccination programme.The suites will be adapted and used as a large-scale training facility over the next five weekends.The adaptation of Old Trafford is part of a UK-wide programme which

direct to your inboxThe Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital is to open emergency Covid beds for adults in a sign of the unprecedented pressure facing Greater Manchester’s hospitals.Sir Richard Leese, the region’s health chief, said the situation in the system was now ‘critical’ as NHS bosses have scrambled to discharge as many people as possible ahead of a sustained peak over the coming three weeks.Crisis meetings have been held to determine the ability to scale up beds, as Salford Royal and

Sign up to the M.E.N.'s Manchester Family newsletter for all the latest from school closures to ways to entertain the kidsPlans for daily Covid tests in schools have been halted amid concerns over the new variant.The idea was that pupils who were identified as close contacts of a positive case would be tested daily for seven days, as an alternative to them having to self-isolate.Unveiled as a 'milestone moment' when it was unveiled by ministers, it was billed as a critical move in fighting the

straight to your inbox every day for freeManchester United are open to loaning Facundo Pellistri to ensure he gets regular playing time at senior level.Pellistri, 19, joined United from Penarol for €9million on deadline day in October but is yet to make his first-team debut and has played eight times for the Under-23s and Under-21s.The Uruguayan tested positive for coronavirus earlier this month but the MEN understands United are prepared to loan Pellistri this month once he has made a full

direct to your inboxTeachers endured a ‘constant rolling nightmare’ after the government made a series of U-turns on school closures and January exams, a Manchester councillor has said.Schools and colleges were told in the first week of January that the decision to hold BTEC and vocational exams was theirs to make while most students stayed home during lockdown.The Department of Education (DfE) was accused by Labour of placing thousands of learners and teaching staff in an ‘incredibly difficult

direct to your inboxA driver was caught on Deansgate with stolen taxi plates on his Ford Mondeo - before he led police on a 20-minute high-speed chase. Anas Abuhdaima, 26, initially stopped for officers in Manchester city centre after they pulled him over.

What do you think about the safety of schools? Do you think closing them was the right decision? Are you a school worker who is concerned about safety? Let us know in the comments here, or on our Manchester Family Facebook page. Answering a question about the safety of schools on BBC Radio 5 Live today, England's chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty, said: "Are they safe for children, the answer is absolutely yes - in large part due to the fantastic work teachers have done, but the main

direct to your inboxMatt Hancock has stressed to parents that schools are for key workers' children only during the third national lockdown. It comes after rows erupted over parents 'needlessly' taking up key worker spaces in schools.

What do you think about the Education Secretary telling parents to report schools? What's been your experience of remote learning? Are you a teacher who's angered by the government's response? Let us know in the comments here, or share your views on our Manchester Family Facebook page. Lee, whose Facebook page ICT with Mr P, on which he shares light-hearted posts about school life, has become a massive hit with teachers and parents, added: "If anything, the whole pandemic has shown how Ofsted

Have you applied for a key worker or vulnerable child place? Has your child's school confirmed your place? Let us know in the comments here "In Manchester we have very high numbers of vulnerable and key worker children and schools are in the incredibly difficult position of trying to work out who they can make an offer of an on-site school place to, with no guidance from government on crucial details."The government has failed to prepare for another period of school closure and it is now

straight to your inbox every day for freeMarcus Rashford has welcomed the news that pupils entitled to free school meals will still get them while schools are closed.The Manchester United footballer described the decision as “progress” and said the provision of meals for hungry children “should never be in question”.His comments come after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that all primaries, secondaries and colleges in England would close as part of a national lockdown.Free school meals

Follow our dedicated live blog here The ones that are closed are providing places for key worker and vulnerable children, as they did during the first lockdown. If your child's school has closed, get in touch with us on our Manchester Family Facebook page here, let us know in the comments here, or email [email protected]. These are the schools that have closed by boroughMount Carmel RC, BlakleyOswald Road Primary, ChorltonSt Peter's Catholic Primary, WythenshaweBirchfields Primary,

direct to your inboxA number of primary schools in Greater Manchester reopened on Monday - while others decided to stay closed.Many children were due to return to class today following the Christmas holidays, but it's not been possible for some after teachers followed union advice to stay away.It was at the weekend when union leaders held an emergency meeting and advised members that they have the 'legal right' not to turn up for work due to health and safety concerns in light of rising

direct to your inboxStockport MP Nav Mishra has called for primary schools in Tier 4 to remain closed while coronavirus infection rates continue to rise.Primary schools across London and in south east England are to stay shut following a government U-turn, due to the new variant of coronavirus driving sky-high rates.But Mr Mishra says if schools in those areas are not safe to open for the new term, then neither are those in areas under the toughest restrictions.This includes Greater Manchester

Follow our dedicated live blog hereThe ones that are closed are providing places for key worker and vulnerable children, as they did during the first lockdown.And some that were due to reopen later this week are warning parents they'll be staying closed.If your child's school has closed, get in touch with us on our Manchester Family Facebook page here, let us know in the comments here, or email [email protected] are the schools that have closed by boroughMount Carmel RC, BlakleyOswald

direct to your inboxIn a matter of hours, schools will be reopening their doors to begin the spring term, but thousands of teachers, support staff and parents don't know whether they should be returning or not.Earlier this week, the education secretary Gavin Williamson backtracked on earlier decisions and said secondary schools will have an extra week's holiday before a staggered return.Some primary schools in London were told not to reopen but then Mr Williamson performed another U-turn after

direct to your inboxParents have been left angry and frustrated after Boris Johnson insisted that primary schools were safe despite ongoing pressure to keep them closed.Primaries are due to reopen in Tier 4 areas except London tomorrow despite growing concerns about a new variant of coronavirus.Unions, teachers and scientists have urged the government to delay the reopening to curb mounting transmission rates.

direct to your inboxPrime Minister Boris Johnson has said parents should send children back to primary school tomorrow 'in areas where schools are open'.His comments come as pressure mounts on the government to keep schools closed amid concerns over rates of coronavirus transmission.The National Education Union (NEU), the UK's largest teaching union, told its members that it is unsafe for them to go back to work on Monday.